Medill students to hold rally Thursday

On Thursday, Apr. 23, students at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism will lead a rally in support of U.S. journalist and Medill alumna Roxana Saberi’s release from Iranian imprisonment.

Students will gather in front of the journalism building, Fisk Hall, at 5:15 p.m. and begin marching at 5:30 p.m. The march will continue through campus and end at The Rock, where Medill Dean John Lavine, Professor Jack Doppelt and others will speak to express their support for Saberi and concern for her immediate release.

The Medill Undergraduate Student Advisory Council decided to organize the event in response to the Iranian government’s decision to sentence Saberi to eight years in prison after convicting her of espionage.

“The councilors felt we’d be remiss not to acknowledge this travesty,” said Medill senior Shari Weiss, a council member. “We will march in solidarity with Roxana and journalists everywhere.”

Saberi is a Medill and Northwestern alumna who earned her Master’s Degree in Journalism from the university in 1999.